At long last, here is my newest blog entitied "Typography (Part Three)."

http://avid.blogs.com/concept_to_creation/2008/03/typography-part.html#more

I received a PM asking where my blog went... So I thought I would bump this up.

I recently had an in-depth discussion regarding my blog and the new format, etc. I'm told that it will be prominently displayed when the new blog area redesign is completed...so just in case you are wondering, my blog is still alive and well.

As a matter of fact, it has been consistently the top blog since its inception...and I appreciate everyone who has visited.

I am working on a new series on media planning and buying and should be posting the first one soon... after I recover from my writer's block. ;)

In the meantime, you can access my blog at the link above this post.

-- Robert

Perfectly timed bump! I was just in the midst of titling a short film and thinking I should get someone more knowledgable than me to give me some typography advice.

I have a question - while I'm trying to keep things as simple as possible and I'm well aware of the dangers of mixing fonts (and mixing drinks), what do people think of contrasting fonts for descriptions vs names in titles?

eg see the attached end slate, and please rip into me about it if you think it's neccessary to. And yeah I know Trajan is a massive cliche...

Whatever I use here I plan to also use in the credit roll, probably next to each other instead of above and below (all aligned to the same divide point)

I think it looks great... I might slightly decrease the gothic font size -- it competes in a very marginal way due to its weight. You might also consider increasing the kerning of the gothic font as you make it slightly smaller.

The real test is how it looks over your video? Or will the background stay black? Looks good, imho.

fwiw...those are only a few things I would try and then make a final determination after doing so... then, I might decide that it looked better just the way it is...

Thanks Robert.

Suggestions sound sensible - I'll play with the size & kerning on the gothic font. They will indeed be staying on black.

As a "font fan" myself, nice one, Swil.  Your font mix looks coherent and well designed, in my opinion.  Very simple and elegant.

Swil:

I know Trajan is a massive cliche.

Well, if it was good enough for the Romans...

Thanks Robert it's always useful to read something like this I'll forward a link to my friends & colleagues.

For those of you who might care, 2007 was the 50 year anniversary of the birth of Helvetica. Yes, it's been around longer than some of us.

To commemorate the event and the impact of Helvetica on visual culture, there was a documentary released, named appropriately, "Helvetica".

This is the most fascinating insight into the seldom covered world of typography and design in general. Highly recommended viewing.

Blue Crow:

Thanks Robert it's always useful to read something like this I'll forward a link to my friends & colleagues.

Thank you, kind Sir!

Bump.

Andrei Zhitkov:

For those of you who might care, 2007 was the 50 year anniversary of the birth of Helvetica. Yes, it's been around longer than some of us.

I have a graphic artist friend who is convinced that the only fonts that really "work" are the ones originally designed in wood.  Miedinger designed Helvetica for metal, and Trajan is definitely based on stone!  (Actually, that's not really fair to Carol Twombly who really designed Trajan).

Nice series, Robert.

jwrl:

I have a graphic artist friend who is convinced that the only fonts that really "work" are the ones originally designed in wood. 

...

 Yeah, artistic types can be really dismissive. In the case of your friend, of the centuries of hand-drawn typography. [:'(]

Times change and type changes with them. (c) Andrei Zhitkov

Bump.

Bump.